Today we are there with another treadmill review for you. One of the treadmills in our list of top treadmills under $1000 is the reviewed Proform 505 CST treadmill model (check Amazon for sale). Let’s dive directly into it, shall we?
Overview of the Proform 505 CST Treadmill
Looking at the main features, the Proform 505 CST may not seem so special at first glance. As the saying goes, God (and the devil) is in the detail. If you take into account the 10 MPH maximum speed and the 10 percent maximum incline, this machine allows for a pretty extensive workout. That great 6-inch display is readable from all angles, no matter how tall or short you are. The weight capacity of the treadmill is also very generous: 300 lb – few other machines have such capacity in this range.
Check Price on AmazonWhat we really liked
I think for many people the biggest enemy of running is boredom. This is where the Proform 505 CST treadmill shines. True, you can use your mp3 player on any treadmill with an earbud, but let’s be honest: sometimes they can be uncomfortable and I don’t know if it’s just me, but mine keep falling out of my ears while I run. With a treadmill you have the option to use external speakers, but there is no need if you have a Proform 505 CST! It has 2 built-in speakers and comes with a standard audio jack for mp3 player (which is usually advertised as an iPod port, but you can connect anything with a standard audio jack: mp3 player, phone, etc.). Noise won’t be a problem; both the treadbelt and the motor were designed to work silently, so you’ll have no problem listening to music, podcasts, etc. on the built-in speakers or the TV.
Got bored of your music? Don’t want to watch TV? Listened to all the podcasts?
If you run outside, you may get bored of your usual route, but then you can try another. And then another.
What if you could decide to run anywhere in the world? That’s what iFit allows you to do – virtually. It displays Google Street View images while you run inside your home and it can even automatically adjust the incline/decline to match the outdoor terrain. Well, the Proform 505 CST is compatible – this means some website will advertise it with huge iFit labels, but in reality you will have to buy a separate iFit module (warning: Amazon reviews for iFit are horrible, so we don’t really want to endorse it too much) which allows you to use the service for some time and then eventually you will need to subscribe. Whether it is worth the price or not is up to you, but the possibility to workout like in some sci-fi is definitely there with this treadmill. And that’s just the coolest feature of iFit.
You can also download more workouts, upload your results, challenge and compete with other people.
We really liked the Proform 505 CST has ProShox Lite 3 Cushioning, which can help protect your joints while running. The warranty is also great: lifetime for the frame, 25 years for the motor, parts and labor for 1 year.
Features
- 6-inch display
- built-in heart rate monitor
- space saver design (the deck folds vertically for storage)
- 20- by 50-inch tread-belt, and
- 2.5 CHP motor.
Dimensions
- 70 by 34 by 59.5 inches (L x W x H)
- Weight: 186 pounds
- Treadbelt: 20 by 55 inches
- Weight Capacity: 300 pounds
How to use this treadmill
The Proform 505 CST is easy to use; there are 10 quick buttons each for setting the speed and elevation. As usual when selecting a new setting with these quick buttons, the change will be gradual.
The display will show all the info you need: elapsed time, distance, workout intensity, calories burned, incline level, speed, heart rate. There are 15 built-in workout apps, under time, distance and calorie-goal categories. During the workout a display shows the segments of the whole workout, including the different speed/incline levels and where you currently are.
What could be improved
If you are into long runs on the treadmill, it is worth noting that the timer display is a bit strange. It’s a 4-digit display, and as usual it starts with mm:ss pattern. After this, it switches to hh:mm, which is fairly usual. The weird thing happens after 1 hour and 40 minutes: for some reason the treadmill resets and starts counting in a mm:ss pattern from zero again. Not a big problem for most, but it’s something to keep in mind. More shocking is the lack of a pause button.
Interruptions happen. On this machine there is no way to “pause” if you are using the programs. That’s a bummer. If you stop, you will have to start all over again.
As it was reported, the heart rate monitor is not accurate:
“The heart rate monitor (built into the handbar) is not reliable. Occasionally it works relatively well (that is, it has accurate and stable readings), while most of the time it fluctuates wildly (for example, with the heart rate being reported as 64, a few seconds later as 176, 154, 97, etc.)”
Some buyers had problems with the packaging and the assembly, saying that it was a “terrible assembly experience”. But like with anything else, opinions vary:
One person stated that “The assembly was a piece of cake.”, another that it was “fairly straight forward” with “instructions very easy to follow” but that it took a little bit more time to do so.
Our advice is to order assembly service if you have little to no experience assembling furniture, machines, etc.
Another problem that sometimes pops up on customer reviews is the noises:
- one user said that they heard a squeaking sound owning a treadmill in for around 7 months, and that this was very annoying.
- another user complained a 3 months old treadmill to have started making thumping noise.
- “the faster I run, the louder it is getting.” – well, no wonder here
- finally some reported that the treadmill is vibrating during run.
However, this is not normal. If you experience these or similar problems, call the customer service.
On the other hand, many users praise the quietness and the cushioning of the machine:
“This treadmill is much quieter than my last treadmill. I heard this awful noise when my husband was running and thought maybe a part was groaning, but it turns out it was him wheezing. I’d never heard him wheeze while running before. He said he always wheezes while running, but I never heard it because the other machine was so loud.”
If you want a really quiet treadmill maybe consider this one as a sort of an upgrade.
Another 505 CST user said: “While it’s not whisper quiet, I think the noise level is very reasonable and could see using this with the TV while others are in the room with no problem.” which is kind of comforting, and then continues with: “The shock system is wonderful” …
Conclusion
So in conclusion, the Proform 505 CST is a decent treadmill for the price. We really liked the build, the entertainment options (including iFit compatibility), the ProShox Lite 3 Cushioning and the great warranty options.
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